I’ve had a few duds in a row on this review site, so today I am going to share some of my favorite free stories. There is lots of dross among the unpublished fiction on the internet, of course, depressingly so, but some of them are truly gems. The following stories are all original fiction, they are fun, they are (relatively) short and, best of all, they are yours to download for free!
A Guest Review by LenaLena
Title: Whitetail Rock
Author: Anne Tenino
Length: 27K Words
Blurb:
Nikhil “Nik” Larson is a snarky, dark-skinned adoptee from India who grew up in the Whitest Town in America. Back to visit his parents Nik meets Trooper Jurgen Dammerung, a blond, butch motorcycle cop who’s so hot he leaves a con trail wherever he goes.
Jurgen is the epitome of everything Nik hated about growing up the lone Indian boy among a town of white people. But Jurgen surprises him rather (ahem) pleasantly, in spite of — or because of — Nik’s attempts to needle him. By the end of his visit, Nik realizes he likes Jurgen. But Jurgen’s so not the relationship type.
Right?
Review:
You many know Anne Tenino from books she has published, but this was the story that started it all. It was originally written for the m/m romance group on goodreads. Everything works in this story: the structure, the characters, the conflict, the sex and it has many brilliant one-liners. One of the side characters, Sam, got his own book with Too Stupid To Live, and you can find The Fix, a short sequel for Nik and Jurgen, here or here. That one is also free.
Title: El Presidio Rides North
Author: Domashita Romero
Length: 19K words
Blurb:
In a post-zombie apocalypse world, an almost-madman named Mercury and his newfound companion, Gaga, seek refuge in a RV-turned-mobile-fortress.
Review:
I typically don’t do zombies. Or werewolves, or vampires or what have you. And yet I loved this story. It is fresh and quirky and poignant. I wouldn’t call it classically romantic, but there is something between Mercury and Gaga that makes you want to cheer. Whether they will end up in the North with other survivors or back at the World’s Largest Adult Bookstore, it doesn’t really matter. The ending is Happy For Now (HFN) but a very positive one. Perfect beach read.
Romero has a large collection of stories with a wild variety of characters. They are listed on ArchiveOfOurOwn.com (AO3) under whitachi. To download, open a story and click the download button in the upper right corner. Choose your format!
Title: Of Sweaters and Heartache
Author: LyingOutLoud
Length: 14K Words
Blurb:
I had a pretty good life going, but then my ex had to march into my favorite coffee bar and back into my life. I hate him. And his stupid sweater.
Review:
Excellent break up – make up story. Lucas has anger issues for sure. Matt so obviously still loves him. These are lovely characters who are perfect in their imperfection. I am not normally a fan of flashbacks but they are used very well in this story. It’s emotional, but you’ll smile through the whole thing. Definite Happily Ever After (HEA).
Title: It’s More Like Scifi, Really
Author: Freak Perfume
Length: 34K Words
Blurb:
Somehow what should have been a typical summer holiday turns into something straight out of a rejected romance novel. His friends are sure he’s heading for happily ever after, or at least some heavy petting. Rhys isn’t entirely convinced.
Review:
Freak Perfume’s stories tend to start a bit rambling and chaotic, but once you hit 20% mark or so you’ll be in love with the characters and completely sucked in. The stars of this story are the 3 friends Rhys, Cerwyn and Gwenliann. They live in a small Welsh town where nothing ever happens. When Max and his mother move into town and the traveling perfomers Les Enfants arrive for their yearly stop, things do start to happen. In unexpected ways. Which I am not going to spoil for you. The story is light, funny and totally endearing. HEA.
Or you could try
Title: In Bad Taste
Author: Freak Perfume
Length: 41K Words
I kept going back and forth about which Freak Perfume story I wanted to list here, so hey, here is your bonus story!
Blurb:
It’s not easy being an executive transvestite in a position of power over a bunch of eccentric drama queens. It gets worse when you despise your clients, but thank god for coffee and PA’s.
Review:
Leslie wears women’s clothes but is all man. Add a modeling agency full of queens, an amorous boss, the boss’ cross dressing famous shoe designer twin brother, too much alcohol and cigarettes, and Grigori, Leslie’s shoulder to cry on, and what you get is chaos and something unexpectedly romantic amidst the crises and the cat hair. HEA.
Title: Cold Turkey
Author: Zebbie
Length: 59K Words
Blurb:
If there were groups for this, I know exactly what I’d say. “My name is Thom Oliver, and I’m addicted. It’s been six months, 3 days, 14 hours since my last one night stand. Please keep Evan Llewellyn away from me. I think I’m going to rape him.
Review:
This one is longer and angstier than the other ones, but so worth it. It’s my favorite of the lot, even if it’s not as much of a beach read. Thom is a player, or rather, was a player, because 6 months ago he decided he needed to stop using people. He is going cold turkey off the one night stands. Things are going ok until Evan shows up. What follows is a battle of wills, a battle for control, lots of projection and the struggle to trust again when you’ve been hurt in the past. Evan has his own issues and things are complicated, often not very pretty. Despite what the blurb says there is no rape, but there is dub-con. The reason I am still listing this as a ‘fun freebie’ is because of Thom’s razor sharp observations that are funny enough to make you laugh, even while you’re cringing. Thom’s analyses of his own past behavior are hilariously and brutally self-aware, but his interpretation of current events is tragically not. It’s a love story about a young man who is deathly afraid to fall in love and even more afraid to admit that he is afraid. Watching him fall in love despite all this makes for a very engaging read. This is barely squeeking by as an HFN, but I am determined that these guys are going to make it!
To get the stories from fictionpress, I use a website called flagfic.com. Just enter the url of the first chapter in the little box on the left, add your email and select the format you want and the website will send you the whole story. Some stories (and this is true for AO3 as well) include the author notes at the beginning of each chapter. These are often annoying and break the flow, but hey, the stories are free.
Zebbie, LyingOutLoud and Freak Perfume seem to have disappeared off the face of the internet, unfortunately. In Zebbie’s case this is especially tragic since she left so many unfinished stories. If I were you I would grab these stories before their owners realize their youthful indiscretions are still online and they remove them!